Overshoe-retainer.



L. HARROLD & W. J. THAMSEN.

OVERSHOE RETAINER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1908. 9 2,42, Patented June 28, 1910.

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LAWN I-IARROLD, OF ELLWOOD CITY, AND WILLIAM J. THAMSEN, OF HAZELDELL, PENNSYLVANIA.

OVERSHOE-RETAINER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LAWN IIARROLD and l/VILLIAM J. TI-IAMSEN, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Ellwood City and Hazeldell, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Overshoe-Retainers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for retaining overshoes in position upon the foot of the wearer; and it has for its objects to provide a simple and improved retaining device; comprising two separate and distinct members, viz: a clutch member adapted when it is to be used to be adjusted and worn upon the ordinary shoe or foot covering, and an engaging member adapted to be attached or applied to the overshoe in such a position that when the overshoe is adjusted for wear the engaging member will automatically engage the clutch member and serve to, prevent loss or accidental displacement of the overshoe.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the construction and operation of this class of devices.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention; it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the clutch member of the improved overshoe retainer. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the engaging member detached. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an overshoe having the engaging member applied thereto, said engaging member being shown in elevation. Fig. 4 is a rear view of an ordinary shoe having the clutch member applied thereto. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken through the heel portion of a shoe and overshoe equipped with the improved retaining device and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. September 28, 1908.

Patented June 28, 1910.

Serial No. 455,133.

showing the parts in engagement with each other. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing the positions assumed by the parts in the act of detaching the overshoe.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The clutch member A of the improved retaining device comprises a curved or crescent-shaped body portion 5, adapted to fit exteriorly against the rear side of the counter portion of an ordinary boot or shoe, and provided at its lower edge with a flange 6, engaging the crease 7, that exists between the heel 8 and the counter 9, of any boot or shoe of ordinary conventional construction. The body portion 5, is provided with an upward extending tongue 10, having adjacent to its upper end a struck-up lip 11, the upper edge of which is projected in an outward direction, and which possesses a degree of inherent resiliency.

The engaging member B, consists of a plate 12 of metal or other suitable material which is provided with spurs 13, 14, which are struck-up from the body thereof, and adapted to serve for attaching said engaging member upon the counter portion of an overshoe, said engaging member or plate being applied interiorly upon the overshoe adjacent to the upper rear edge of the latter. The plate 12 is provided upon the front or exposed face thereof with a plurality of teeth or ratchets 15, disposed in vertical series; and the plate 12 is provided at its upper edge with a rearward extending lug or projection 16, which, when the retaining member is in position for operation, projects upwardly and rearwardly from beyond the upper rear edge of the overshoe.

The operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. The engaging member B is attached to the overshoe by means of the spurs 13, 14, which serve to retain it securely in position. The clutch member, when not in use, may be carried loosely in the pocket, or a case may be provided in which a pair of clutch members may be conveniently carried until needed for use, when the said clutch members are applied to the counter portions of the shoes by simply inserting the flanges 6 into the creases 7 between the heels 8 and the counters 9, where the clutch members will then be retained with a suflicient degree of security due to the friction between the parts which may be enhanced or increased by making the curved or crescent body-portions of the clutch members of such dimensions that the counters of the shoes will be clasped thereby when said clutch members are adjusted. It is obvious that when the members of the retaining device have been adjusted upon the shoes and overshoes, and the latter are applied to the former the teeth or ratchets of the engaging members will engage the resilient tongues 11, of the clutch members, and that accidental displacement of the overshoe will thus be positively prevented. Removal of the overshoes may, however, be easily effected when desired, by pressing or bearing down upon the lugs at the upper edges of the engaging members, the teeth or ratchets of which will thus be disengaged from the resilient tongues 11, thus permitting the overshoe to be very readily removed.

This. improved retaining device is, as will be seen, extremely simple and it may be manufactured and placed upon the market at a very moderate expense. When applied in position for use it is practically immovable, and the use of the device is in'no sense objectionable; on the other hand, it provides an absolute safeguard against accidental displacement and loss of overshoes which I will be greatly appreciated by wearers of overshoes.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

In a retaining device for overshoes, a clutch member consisting of a crescentshaped body having an inwardly-extending sharpened flange to project between the heel and the counter portion of a shoe, the body being provided intermediate its ends with a resilient finger having adjacent to its upper end an orifice defining a lip, and a ratchet provided with means for attachment to an overshoe and formed with an outstanding extension forming a finger piece, said extension being normally spaced from the shoe counter to permit ready disconnection of the ratchet from the lip of the finger.

In testimony whereof we affixed our sig" natures in presence of two witnesses.

LAWN HARROLD. WILLIAM J. THAMSEN.

WVitnesses:

R. E. BUTLER, C. C. THAMSENQ 

